Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Chester Home Heating Fuel Comparison

Households have a variety of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Natural Gas is the most common choice in Chester, used by 2,796,352 or 52% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Chester homeowners is Electricity, used by 1,447,260 homes (27%). The rest of the homes are heated with Heating Oil (12%), Propane (5%), Wood (2%), and Coal (1%).

Chester County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)

Year	Natural Gas	Propane	Electricity	Oil	Wood	Solar	Other
2025	2,796,352	282,182	1,447,260	663,450	112,270	7,204	31,146
2024	2,785,913	276,598	1,396,275	685,083	111,416	6,155	32,085
2023	2,698,411	278,621	1,389,291	717,601	111,540	6,964	44,558
2022	2,710,114	282,625	1,337,240	742,118	105,147	5,282	41,959
2021	2,677,533	267,454	1,287,322	760,867	109,832	4,867	46,436
2020	2,656,062	251,472	1,254,850	776,616	113,900	4,554	41,326
2019	2,634,591	235,490	1,222,377	792,365	117,969	4,241	36,216
2018	2,592,386	225,476	1,198,450	806,761	128,110	2,197	35,172
2017	2,598,275	222,650	1,158,937	790,353	127,198	2,225	35,586
2016	2,551,248	209,719	1,133,797	805,822	125,583	1,639	34,565
2015	2,549,385	200,754	1,103,995	837,082	141,835	2,117	38,034
2014	2,528,694	198,296	1,087,741	858,758	148,256	1,760	36,886
2013	2,516,052	195,799	1,086,074	870,064	148,597	1,408	33,941
2012	2,530,063	188,880	1,046,982	936,674	145,089	1,484	31,494
2011	2,516,883	178,387	1,019,764	973,749	137,625	1,545	28,259
2010	2,530,446	177,562	997,925	993,832	126,074	597	29,423

Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Chester

Fuel oil has become less popular in Chester. In the 5 years since 2020, the number of homeowners using heating oil dropped from 776,616 to 663,450, a 15% drop.

Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Chester

Between 2020 and today, the number of households using propane as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 251,472 to 282,182, a 12% change. Comparing 2020 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 2,656,062 to 2,796,352, a 5% change.

Electricity use for home heating in Chester

Electric heat pump systems for home heating are more popular in Chester. Since 2020, the number of homes heating with electricity rose from 1,254,850 to 1,447,260, a 15% change.

Adoption of solar home heating systems in Chester

Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Now, 7,204 homes in Chester are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 58% gain from 2020, when 4,554 homes utilized active solar heating.

Chester County Heating Oil Trends

Last year, Chester County homeowners purchased a total of 29 million gallons of heating oil.

Short Term Trends

Chester’s overall number two heating oil use fluctuates annually primarily depending on how cold each winter is. As the temperature outside gets colder, homes’ furnaces need to burn increasing amounts of number two heating oil to keep the house warm inside. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Chester was 29.3°F, which was 5.5°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.

Chester County Average Winter Temperature

Heating Season	Average Temperature
2024 - 2025	29.3° F
2023 - 2024	34.8° F

Chester County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company

For Chester residences heating with heating oil, picking which of the 41 heating oil companies that serve Chester plays a big role in determining how much money is spent on heating each winter.

Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who want a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system pick one of the 131 “full-service” oil companies that serve Chester. Full service companies such as Atlas Oil Company or J. Halligan & Sons offer clients annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic number two heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s fuel oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.

Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are on a budget. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the fuel oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. Some of the 2 Chester cash heating oil companies serving Chester include Mauger & Company Inc and Reilly & Sons Inc.

Chester Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Heating oil Companies Serving Chester: 41 companies .
Average Number of Chester Houses Served per Number Two Heating Oil company : 16182

Chester Heating Oil Delivery Overview

663,450 houses in Chester heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Chester temperatures drop as low as 23.2° F each winter. 12.3% of Chester households are reliant on fuel oil delivery each winter.

6.1% of Chester County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter

Chester County Households	Chester County Heating Oil Households
10.7M	663,450

499 Chester Oil Companies Homeowners Can Count On

With 507,486,889 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Chester families last winter, the Chester community depends on its 499 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery can be summed up in two steps: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Chester, two of the closest terminals are Ergon in Newell, PA and Etmt in Blawnox, PA. Then, the truck delivers the fuel oil to homes and businesses throughout Chester and the surrounding area.